The body's connective tissue and cartilage include a natural compound called glucosamine. GS-500 is the preferred form of supplemental glucosamine.GS-500 has many advantages. It's up to 98% absorbable, so more glucosamine reaches the joint structures. Glucosamine sulfate has been clinically studied to build joint cartilage.Products such as chondroitin sulfate, shark cartilage and other cartilage extracts are more difficult to absorb than glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine sulfate has been shown to be up to 98% absorbable.